An independent student newspaper at the University of Central Florida has rights to two domain names (ucfnews.com and ucffuture.com) despite the fact that each incorporates a university trademark, an arbitration panel ruled on July 13 following the university’s demands that the domains be transferred to its possession.

SPLC View: As far as we know, this was the first domain name dispute between a student newspaper and the school with which it is connected that was resolved by a formal arbitration panel. It’s a good – and important – win for student media and should help dissuade other schools from threatening to take legal action against student media involved in the legitimate business of providing information about their schools.